Council chair’s reception marks 60 years of Omagh High School

DUP Omagh town councillor, Errol Thompson, a former pupil of the school, said it was “particularly pleasing” to be afforded the opportunity to honour his alma mater in its very special year.

Cllr Thompson said, “Omagh High School has served the Omagh community and its hinterland for the past 60 years, providing not only a high standard of education to the students but also providing the necessary life skills to equip them for the outside world.

“It is fitting that we, as the local authority, recognise publicly, the contribution the school has played, not only in the education of our young people but also in the wider community.”

The chair said it was hard to believe that 60 years had elapsed since the school, in its original incarnation as Omagh County Secondary Intermediate School, opened its doors to almost 650 students under the stewardship of its first principal, Mr Leitch.

Cllr Thompson said, “As an aside, the school was opened by the then Minister for Agriculture, the Rt Honourable Harry West MP, father of sitting councillor, Diana Armstrong.”

The chair said the school had changed significantly since 1961.

He said, “There is no doubt that the challenges presented by Covid-19 over the past 18 months have led to a challenging environment with schools closed and classes being delivered online. There was the added burden on teachers of having to grade students for A-Levels and GCSEs based on projected grades which was quite a challenge.

“Like all other schools, the pupils and teachers of Omagh High School had to adapt and in many ways are still adapting to a new normal.”

The council chair also said the way education is delivered had “changed significantly”, none more so than in the last year-and-a-half, and this undoubtedly proved a challenge for educators.

“I know that Mr Gaitatzis and his senior management team, supported by the Board Of Governors, have taken all measures necessary to ensure that Omagh High School is best-placed to adapt to meet those challenges and will continue to go from strength-to-strength,” Cllr Thompson added.